Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-01-13
WILD BECKY.


folks OF Milville were proud Of over and
above the new organ in their ''meetin'-
house." 1t was the Milville boarding
school, which capped the very highest
pinnacle of their village. A light set
upon hill, which shed its literary radi-
ance over the whole place.
Cynthia Adams was the only day
scholar, but she was the squire's daugh-
ter, and 1t was matter of course that
her schooling should he something be-
yond that of the rest Of the village girls.
One day as the scholars were hanging
over the school yard fence, or, sitting in
groups on the steps, waiting for the
school tell to ring, they heard man
with q lusty pair of lungs shouting Gee
haw, git up thar!n in q voice so loud that
it threatened to shake the hills.
That is one of old Miller's whispers,
l do believe" laughed Cynthia. "He's a
farmer about here with q roaring voice.
Such queer fellow as he is, to be sure.
/ wish you girls could see him."
Tho "Gee-haws" sounded nearer every
moment, and now q pair of oxen came
numbering over the brow of the hill, fol-
lowed by q rickety haycart, at the end of
son in q cloud of dnst Her ample bonnet
swung from the top of one Of the poles
which formed the side of the cart, evidently
for the purpose of proving to the passer
by that she possessed the article, though
she did not choose to wear it. She looked
up at it rather wistfully, however, as her
champion, Farmer Miller, with thunder
ing exclamations, drove the cart up to
the school house gate.
"Pile out, Becky" he roarcd, land
We'll soon fix it up with 'em here. Don't
be skeered, gal. Be you the school
marm?"
The question was addressed to Miss
Peters, the principal, who, at this juno
ture, came politely forward.
"I haven't much learnin' myself,
ma'am," +" he continued, "but Pm bound
that my gal, here, sholl have as good g,
chance as the rest of 'cm. She's gootl
gal, Becky is, only trifle wild like, and
needs settlin' q bit. I'm a better hard
at settlin' bills than lively young crca-
lures like this one; so if you'll tend To
one I'll tend to t'other," " and handing the
poor girl over, tumbling her bonnet after
her, he was half way down the hill be-
fore Wild Becky had made up her mind
whether she would be settled or not.
1t was very disagreeable standing there
with all the girls staring at her, she
thought; and, glancing shyly out from
under her long lashes, her eyes rested
gladly on the familiar features of the
'squire's daughter.
''How do, Cynthia?" she said, nodding
in such q civil way that it surprised her
self.
Cynthia looked blankly into her face
moment without making the slightest
sign of recognition, then, wheeling
around on her heels, she turned her back
squarely upon her.
A litter went around the yard Every
one seemed amused but poor Becky,
who shut her mouth tightly, and her
heart too for that matter, and hated her
kind AS she joined the crowd squeezing
into the school house she wondered why
she had ever consented to be brought to
school, The old wild life perfectly con-
tented her. To roll about for hours
under the widespread oaks, with friendly
squirrels, or to chase the brook as it
dashed gayly down the hills, was pleas
anter than the society of girls, she had al
ways thought
But the fact was her grandfather had
taken it into his dear old head to make q
lady of her. and, rather than disappoint
the kind soul who had done so much for
her, Wild Becky made desperate effort
to plume herself down that morning into
civilized girl and mingle with her fell
low beings.
1t was harder even than she had i'm
agined, The close school room almost
stifled her, While the dull monotonous
hum of voices had such stupefying
effect that before she had been seated
long her head dropped on her desk and
she fell asleep. She was awakened by
something tickling her nose; putting her
hand up, quickly q great bouncing but
terfly fluttered through her fingers and
shot up into the air Now, this was u
playmate Wild Becky could never resist
without half realizing where she was,
she burst into loud laugh, and was
making q dive for it, when, recollecting
herself, she slid down again into her seat
with the painful consciousness that an
eyes were upon her. The pair that terri
fed her most were those upon the plat
form-not Miss Peters eyes, but those OF
another teacher who had come into tho
room during Becky's nap.
"Wherc did you come from?n asked the
woman, sharply, for she was indignant
at the interruption of her class.
"Biscuit City, ma'am, was the prompt
reply.
ga land productive of biscuits and rude
girls" returned the teacher, facetiously
at which tho other scholars, particularly
the older ones, laughed most obligingly
Tt,1n p,,1 ,1I
you had better return there at once,n she
continued.
Wild Becky did not need much urging
on that score. AS quickly as possible shC
sprang from her seat, and, vaultine
through the open window, swung hcrscl
down to the ground as neatly as q boy
could have done it, for she was in Grca
wrath. So off she trotted, never lookin.
behind her until she brought up at tn,
kitchen door.
Through the opening she could see he
grandfather bending over the big bricl
oven.
"Sakes alive! School amt out yet, b.
it?'' he asked, lifting himself up to ge
good view of the clock
Becky flung herself down on the step
and poured forth her injuries, windin,
up with declaration of independence
'I'll never go again, never. You will
not ask it of me, will you, grandfather?
"Not if you're set agin it, !" said the oil
man, with a sigh, as he passed into tn
buttery and brought out u heaping disl
of pancakes.
81 thought as how you'd come hom
hungry, and SO made lot Of 'em''
Becky had weakness for pancakes